Rat trap



y o. STUESSE 1,757,063

RAT TRAP Fiid July 27, 1929 QSCAR, STUESSE.

Afforne Patented May 6 UNITED" STATES oFFIcEf-T 1 oscAIts'rUEssE, F srxriours, MIssounI f Application filed July 27,

My invention relates to improvements in rat traps, and has among its objects the production of such devices which shall be simple, inexpensive, sturdy,reliable, and efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. v v

Another object of my invention is to provide a rattrap which may be folded up when notin use, to a substantially fiat,thin,-compact package, so that the same may be conveniently stored away until desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind described, in which no springs are needed to hold the parts in.

their set relationship, so that the traps may have avery long period of usefulness.

Many other objects and advantages of theconstruction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, from the disclosures herein given. 7

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and uses mentioned, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

In the drawings, wherein *likereference characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout, l

The figure is a perspective view of my improved device, as viewed in operative posi tion..

Referring more particularly" to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my -invention,P indicates a heavy plate, of metal, wood orthe like, one end of which rests upon the ground or other suitable supporting. surface, and the other end of which is maintained uplifted, somewhat as shown. Obviously, when there is a rat beneath the board and it is permitted to fall thereon, the'rat will be killed. 7 1

The device for maintaining the plate'i its set position will now be described.

The framework of the trapcomprises three main parts, these. being the elongated, strips or rod elements 1, 2 and 3. Theupright element 1 is adaptedto rest on the supporting surface on which the lower end of the plate rests, the upper end of the rod abutting-the RAT TRAP 1929. s arn'aaijm.

under sideor surfaceofthe plate P,'as shown, andthereby maintain the latter in its tilted positionifl V The 'element2 extends laterally acrossthe' element 1-, andfis pivoted thereto, at apoint intermediate its ends tointermediate the-ends of the latter. This pivotalconnection is pref? a erably formed by forming a tubular portion 4 out ioffth e' material of the rod 1 and a similar tubular portion?) out of the'material of the rod 2, in any suitable manner, and then inserting the pin :6 through the registering openings 4: and 5'. In this construction, the

strips 1 and 2 will be foldable so as to lie flat,

in the same plane.

the'elements 1 and 2, so that movement ofthe latter-may be transmitted therethrough to s the former to releasethe plate P, Element 3 is preferably hinged or pivoted at one end 7 by forminga tubularportion thereat, similar to the portions 4: and 5 previously described, and the adjacent end of the elementQ is similarly 'formed as at 8, a pin 9 extending through thebearingsthus formed. 7

The other or freeend of the element 3 abuts against theelement labov e its pivotal connection with the element the element 1 having a-projection '10 formed thereon, 'toact as support, and permit thelatter to fall.

. Any suitable bait may be suspended "from the forwardend of the element 2, as, at 11, and if desired, a platform 12 may be suspended from the 'e'lenientfQ. This platform not only "steadies the bait,providing more ready access thereto,- but in addition, the'weight of Y the rat thereon, :Will of, itself, actuate the" parts to release the board. A resilient means,

such as the spring 13, maybe placed beneath the platform'12, for'steadying contact with the supporting'surface.

The third elementB isinte'rpo'sed between When it is desired to put the deviceaway, out of service, the three elongated elements may be folded together so as to lie substan- V tially flat, and occupy-but littleroom, mak- 5 ing avery convenient assembly. i I Havingthus described my invention,- it is obvious that various immaterial modifica tions may be made in the same withoutzde parting from the spirit of my'i'nvention;

10 hence I do not wish to be understoodas'limiting myself to the exact form, construction, 1 arrangement, and combination of'parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned,except-as limited by the claims.

'- What I claim as new andidesire to secure? by Letters Patent is: e I p '1. A rat trap'comprising. an upright element adapted to be mounted on a supporting surface andsupporta' heavy plate at its up- 1 per end, a second element havin'gone end rea movably abutting the first element, and athird. element, movably pivoted to said first Y element and 'operably connectedtothesec 0nd element to 'I actuatethe latter longitudinally to move the first element out of supporting contact with the plate to release the latter.

2. A foldable rat, trap comprising an upright element adapted to rest on a suitable supporting surface and supportingly engage so a heavy plate at its upper end, a second elongatedelement pivoted tosaid first element intermediate its euds,and a thirdelongatedele- 'ment pivotedat one end to said second element above its pivotal connection with said first element, whereby movement of the 1 second element will be transmitted through the third elementto actuate said: first element to release said plate from supported position.

3. A. rat trapcomprising an upright rod;

adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and support the uplifted end of aheavy'plate thereover; a second rod extending; laterally of said rod and pivoted-thereto, a third rod between said, rods v to transmit movement ;,therebetween, one endof the third rod abutting the first rod, and meanson saidfirst rod to engage thepabutting end offthe thirdrod 7 to prevent accidental upward movement of] said ends of the latter. 7 P 7 4. A rat trap comprising an uprightplatesupporting element adapted to besupported on 'a'. suitable surface, a laterally extending rod pivotedto said first element, a third rod having one end pivoted to oneiend of the 1 laterally extending rod and the other end in releasable abutting engagement with the uprightelement, whereby movement of the lat-- erally extending rod will rock the uprightelement about its surface engagement to thereby releasesaid plate, a bait platform depending from said second rod, and resilient means at the underside of said-platform and adapted to engage said supporting sur face.

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